Edge bending device



Feb. 14, 1939.

H G FLAGLER EDGE BENDING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 1 4, 1939. H. G. FLAGLER EDGE BENDTNG DEVTCE Filed April 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H r w WW/.1 a! m a a6 v 2 K Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES was 2,146,949 EDGE BENDING DEVICE Harold G. Flagler, Chicago,

Application April 15, 24 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for edging sheet material, more particularlyto devices for fianging the edges of sheet metal, and has for an object the provision of a simple, reliable and inexpensive device of this character.

Various edge-bending provided, simultaneously driven in opposite directions for engaging the sheet material to form edge flanges devices heretofore known, difficulty has been encounter-ed in producing flanged edges of uniform width and angularity, skillful handling and feeding of thesheet material by experienced operators being required in order to obtain products of approximate uniformity. Accordingly, various types of gauge means have been provided for edging devices of this character, some of which have been relatively, although not completely, satisfactory.

For example, edge-turning devices having edging rolls of the type, in which the flange form-- ing surfaces of the rolls extend at right angles to the axes of the rolls, have been provided with guide, flanges spaced a predetermined distance from the flange forming surfaces so as to prevent variations in the width of the flange. In many cases, however, the edge-forming rolls are provided with fianging surfaces which extend at substantial angles to the axes of the rolls so as to provide in one roll a substantially V-shaped annular groove, the other roll having correspondingly beveled edges adapted to enter the groove. Such rolls have a somewhat longer life than the above described right angle rolls due primarily to the development of less severe end-thrust during the fianging operation, but the problem of properly guiding the sheet material to provide uniform flanges becomes more difficult when rolls of this latter type are employed. I

In order to properly guide the sheet material when utilizing rolls of this latter type, auxiliary provided comprising rotatable gaugewheels supported in front of the point of engagement of the rolls, for guiding the sheet material into operative engagement with the rolls. While gauge wheels of this character are comparatively satisfactory when forming flanges on sheet material having straight edges, such gauge wheels leave much to be desired when encountered, since the auxiliary wheel must be ad uSted relative to the edgeforming rolls whenever a-different curvature is encountered. The necessity for such adjustment will be obvious when it is remembered that the gauge wheel is located an appreciable distance in front of the point of engagement of the edgeforming rolls.

Accordingly,

gauge something is yet to be desired in edge-forming devices of this character, and it is 1937, Serial No. 136,984

a further objectof edge-forming or means for insuring a uniform which gauge means requires no adjustment regardless of the shape or curvature of the edge being flanged.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls, at least one of which includes a fianging surface against which the flange is'formed on the sheet material, together with means including an annular groove or recess in the fianging surface for guiding the sheet material into cooperative relation with the two rolls. More specifically, I provide a support having a surface for supporting the sheet material, a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls one of which is provided with an annular V-shaped groove, one wall of the groove being disposed in theplane of the supporting surface and the periphery of the other roll being beveled and adapted to enter. and cooperate with the V-shaped groove in turningan edge flange on the sheet material. The other wall of the V-shaped groove constitutes the fianging surface against which the flange is formed, and this fianging surface is provided with an annular recess adjacent the outer edge-thereof for engaging the edge of the sheet material so as to guide the sheet material along the supporting surface into cooperative relation with the edge-forming rolls, the annular recess cooperating with the beveled periphery of the other roll to form a preliminary bend in the sheet material. The portion of the fianging surface between the recess and the outer edge is rounded to perm't proper engagement and guiding of sheet material having a concave edge to be flanged.

For a' more complete understanding of my invention reference should now be had to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an edge-turning device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views respectively taken along the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the edge-bending device with a sheet of material being fed thereinto;

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing the edge-forming rolls with a sheet of material passing therethrough;

Figs. '7 and 8 are sectional views respectively taken along the lines"|-- 1 and B-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a typical piece of sheet material having edge flanges formed thereon;

uge

and

gs. 10 and 11 are, respectively, elevational views of modified forms of edge-bending de' ices embodying my invention. e

front wall of the housing,

lower wall of the bearing block art. Within provide suitable driving means pair of edge-forming-rolls or which are isposed, as shown,

for operating a wheels l3 and I4 I5 and J6 and [4 are I'BSDGCtlVQIY'SBCHI'Gd, the shaft 'l'B-being in suitable bearing blocks J8 and 20 which resiliently'support' the sha'ft il'5 for limited movement relative to the shaft I 6.

The bearing block 20 =whichsupports the rear end of the shaft l5-isdispesed, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4, in anaperture'ZI in-the rear wall of the housing 16 and is supported for pivotal movement therein by a pair of pivot pins 22, which pivot pins extend through and threadedly engage suitable apertures "in the casing m, the innermost ends of the pivot pins 22 extending into cooperating holes orapertures-in thebearing Similarly, the bearing block-191s disposed in an aperture 23 (Figs.-2- and'3) in the the aperture 23 *being elongated to permit vertical reciprocal-movement of the beaIing bIOCk-H; and agspring "-24, disposed between thelower wall ofthe aperture23 and the IS, resiliently the casing "l0.

shaft l 6 is providedwith suitablepperating means here shown as a ,crank '28 .provid ngfor hand the material to ,be flanged; and :it will be observed that this supporting plate 532 .is-provided with an aperture 33 through which the bending roll I 4 extends, the periphery of the bending roll l4 being formed to provide an annular groove having operate therewith in turning an edge flange on a piece of sheet material. It will be apparent that when a piece of sheet material is disposed on the supporting plate 32 and fed between the rolls. wand M, the surface between the rolls l3 and uniform width of rflange .on the sheet material, the fianging surface-35 of the roll I 4 is. provided, in accordance with myinvention, with an annular into cooperative engagement with the rolls l3 and 14, Fig.5, a piece is shown supported on the plate 32, with the edge of the sheet material cess 36 in the bending roll M, sumed that the rolls I 3and 14 are being rotated in therespectively opposite directions indicated by the arrows. be apparent now'that if best in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

It is believed that the manner in annular recess or groove 36 functions to guide the sheet material during the flange-forming operation will be apparent from Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the edge of which the these ducts are ordinarily formed by fianging properly curved side walls which are later secured together to form the desired type of duct. Thus, in Fig. 9 I have shown a flanged member 40, one side of which is defined by a reversely curved edge as indicated by the reference numeral 4|. In the past, considerable difficulty has been encountered in fianging sheets of the type shown inFig. 9 due to the fact that it was necessary to adjust the gauge means of the edge-forming device whenever the curvature of the edge changed. It will be apparent, however, that with my improved gauge means the sheet of material will be properly guided into the bending rolls regardless of variations in the curvature of the edge being flanged.

As stated above, the portion of the fianging surface on the roll M, which lies between the recess 36 and the outer edge of the roll, isrounded, as shown best in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, and the purpose of thus rounding this portion of the fianging surface is to permit proper guiding of sheet material having concavely curved edges to be fianged. It will be apparent that if a sharp corner is left .at the point indicated by the reference numeral 38 in Figs. '7 and 8, and a sheet of material ha 'ng a concavely curved edge, as indicated by the broken line 39' in Fig. 6, is fed to the edge-forming rolls, the concavely curved surface would engage the corner so as to prevent t e curved edge from properly nesting in the recess 3%, so that the sheet of material would not be properly guided to the rolls l3 and I4.

While in the preferred form of my invention thus far described the shafts l5 and I6 extend horizontally so that the bending rolls l3 and I4 rotate in a vertical plane, and the plate 32 is inclined, as shown, it may sometimes be desirable, especially when fianging very wide sheets. to have the sup orting plate 32 disposed in a horizontal position. to accomplish this it is necessary only to arrange the casing In at an angle, as shown in Fig. 10, by providing on the casing a. properly formed post 39 for engaging the bracket 12. If desired, of course, suitable bevel gears may be interposed between the handle 28 and the shaft l5 so as to provide for rotation of the handle 28 in a vertical plane.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the cooperating surfaces of the edge-bending rolls [3 and I4 and the sup-- porting surface of the plate 32 extend at angles of 45 with form right angle curved portions, and

flanges of greater or less angularity. This may be accomplished, as shown in Fig. 11, simply. by providing edge-bending rolls l3" and I4 having cooperating peripheral surfaces extending at the desired angles and by arranging the supporting plate 32 in the plane of one pair-of these surfaces. Thus in Fig. 11, the supporting plate is shown arranged at an angle of .approximately 30 with the horizontal, and it will be understood of course that the device shown in Fig. 11 may be supported as shown in Fig. 10 if a horizontal supporting plate is desired.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modificationsmay be made and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

' nitucle as the my invention. what I by Letters Patent is:

Having thus described claim and desire to secure 1. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls at least one of which is provided with a fianging surface against which the flange is formed, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, and means including an annular gauge groove in said one roll defining one'edge of saidfianging surface for guiding the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls the depth of said groove being on the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the sheet material.

2. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls at least one of which is provided with a fianging surface the flange is formed, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, and means insaid one roll defining one edge of said and adapted to engage the edge of the sheet material to be flanged for guiding the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, said gauge groove cooperating with the other one of said rolls to form a preliminary bend in the sheet material prior to said cooperative engagement.

3. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls at least one of which is provided with a fianging surface 7 the flange is formed, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, and gauge means integral with said one roll comprising an annular shoulder defining one edge of said fianging surface for engaging the edge of the sheet material to guide the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the height of said shoulder being on the same order of magthickness of said sheet material.

4. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a support including a supporting surface for the sheet material, a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls provided with fianging surfaces between which the flange is formed, said fianging surfaces being arranged at a predetermined angle to said supporting surface, means for simultaneously r0- gauge groove in one of said rolls defining the edge of the fianging surface of said one roll for cooperating with said support to guide said sheet material between said rolls the depth of said groove being on the same thickness of said sheet material.

5. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a support including a supporting surface for the sheet material, a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls provided'with fianging surfaces between which the flange is formed, said fianging surfaces being arranged at substantially right angles to said supporting surface, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, and an annular gauge groove in one of said rolls at the outer edge of said fianging surface for cooperating with said support to guide said sheet material between said rolls, said gauge groove cooperating with the other one of said rolls to form a preliminary bend in the sheet material before said sheet passes between said rolls.

6. In an edge-turning flanges on sheet material,

device for forming the combination of a order of magnitude as the support including a supporting surface for the 7s tive engagement with 7. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges onsheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls one having an annular peripheral groove and the other gagement with said rolls.

8. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, said annular recess cooperating with the other one of said rolls to form a preliminary bend in the sheet material prior to said cooperative engagement.

9. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls, one having defining the outer edge of said fianging surface adapted to engage the edge of the sheet material as said flange is forme 11. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges onsheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls, one having gagement with said rolls.

12. In an edge-turning device for forming gagement with said rolls.

13. In an edge-turning device for forming rotatable edge-forming rolls, one having an annular V-shaped groove one side of which is in the-plane of said supporting surrotatable edge-forming rolls, one having an annular 'V-shaped groove one side of which is in the plane of said sheet material, said recess and said supporting surface cooperating -to guide said sheet material into cooperative engagement with said. rolls.

15. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet groove in turning an edge flange on sheet material supported on said supporting surface, the other side of said V-shaped groove extending substantially at right angles with respect to said supporting surface and constituting a flanging surface against which said flange is formed, and gauge means integral with said other side of said groove for engaging an edge of said sheet material to guide said sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls.

16. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls at least one of which is provided with a flanging surface against which the flange is formed, and an annular gauge groove formed in said one roll adjacent the outer edge of said flanging surface adapted to engage an edge of the sheet material to be flanged for guiding the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the portion of said one roll outwardly of said annular groove being rounded to permit proper guiding of sheet material having concave edges to be flanged.

1'7. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls one having an annular peripheral groove and the other adapted to have its periphery enter said groove and cooperate therewith in turning an edge flange on the sheet material, one side of said groove comprising a flanging surface against which said flange is formed, and an annular recess in said one side of said groove adjacent the outer edge of said flanging surface adapted to engage an edge of the sheet material for guiding the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the portion of said one side of said groove between its recess and said outer edge being rounded to permit proper guiding of sheet material having concave edges to be flanged.

18. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a support having a surface for supporting the sheet material, a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls, one having an annular V-shaped groove one side of which is in the plane of said supporting surface, the periphery of the other roll being beveled and adapted to enter and cooperate with said groove in turning an edge flange on sheet material supported on said supporting surface, the other side of said V-shaped groove constituting a flanging surface against which said flange is formed, and an annular recess in said other side of said groove adjacent the outer edge of said flanging surface for engaging sheet material supported on said supporting surface to guide said sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the portion of said other side of said V-shaped groove between said recess and its outer edge being rounded to permit proper guiding of sheet material having concave edges to be flanged.

. 19. For use in an edge-turning device, an edgeturning roll having a V- haped peripheral groove, one wall of which forms a flanging surface, said one wall having an annular recess therein adjacent the outer edge thereof, the depth of said recess being on the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the material to be flanged.

20. In an edge turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating one of which is provided with a flanging surface which engages the outer surface of the flange during the flange forming operation, and means including an annular gauge groove in said roll adjacent the outer extremity of said flanging surface for guiding the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the depth of said groove being less than the width of said flanging surface and on the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the sheet material.

21. In an edge turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of cooperating edge turning rolls at least one of which is provided with a flanging surface which engages the outer surface of the flange during the flange forming operation, and gauge means integral with said one roll comprising an annular shoulder adjacent the outer extremity of said flanging surface for engaging the edge of the sheet material to guide the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the height .of said shoulder being. on the same order of magnitude as the thickness of said sheet material.

22. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a support including a supporting surface for the sheet material, a pair of cooperating edge-turning rolls provided with flanging surfaces between which the flange is formed, said flanging surfaces extending at a substantial angle to said supporting surface, means for simultaneously rotating said rolls, and an annular gauge groove in the one of said rolls adapted to engage the outer surface of the flange, said groove being arranged to engage the edge of said sheet material and to cooperate wth said supporting surface for guiding said sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls, the depth of said groove the same order of magnitude as the thickness of said sheet material and said edge of said sheet material being moved out of said groove during the flanging operation.

'23. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-turning rolls one having an annular peripheral groove and the other adapted to have its periphery enter said groove and cooperate therewith in turning an edge flange on the sheet material, one side of said groove comprising a flanging surface for engaging the outer surface of the flange during the flange forming operation, and gauge means including an annular recess in one side of said groove adjacent the outer edge thereof for engaging the edge of the sheet material to guide the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls.

24. In an edge-turning device for forming flanges on sheet material, the combination of a pair of rotatable edge-forming rolls, one having an annular V-shaped groove and the other having a beveled periphery adapted to enter and cooperate with said V-shaped groove in turning an.

edge flange on the sheet material, one wall of said groove constituting a flanging surface for engaging the outer surface of the flange during the flange forming operation, and gauge means including an annular recess in said one wall adjacent the outer edge of said V for engaging the edge of said sheet material to guide the sheet material into cooperative engagement with said rolls.

HAROLD G. FLAGLER.

edge turning. rolls at least 

